ENERGY: Coming a weekend before the much-ballyhooed double
nor’easter that lit up the entire Mid-Atlantic, LBI surfers weren’t sure
whether there’d be enough motion in the ocean to properly run the 3rd Annual
Jetty Clam Jam. But Surfline forecasters ensured Jetty organizers that the
swell would show, and surprisingly enough, chest to shoulder-high offshore
peaks made an appearance, much to everyone’s delight.
FIRST TIME
AT FIGHT CLUB: With the
team-oriented Clam Jam entering its 3rd year, everyone on Long Beach Island
waits in anticipation for this family-friendly event that serves as more of a
community gathering than a proper surf contest. But the ladies-only Coquina
Jam, which ran the bulk of its heats on August 26th, held its first final in
conjunction with the Clam Jam, with Christina Claps and Debbie Green taking the
inaugural win.
SLIDE: 128 surfers, one grassroots affair. Two-man teams
selected at random — with one surfer under 26 and one over — were
compiled during a promo night at The Black Whale Bar & Fish House a month
before the contest, providing plenty of time for speculation about who would
take the coveted Clam Jam trophy. Most importantly, the entire LBI surf
community gathered together, with dogs, babies, kids, and senior citizens all
rubbing elbows and eating cold clams on the half shell.
Defending 2007 and 2008 champion Brendan Willem made
the quarterfinals, along with his brother Conor and dad Bill — but all on
separate teams, summing up the spirit of the Clam Jam. At the end of the day,
Jetty teamrider and LBI’s lone professional surfer Randy Townsend and teammate
Luke Reynolds clinched the win over fellow finalists Josh Law and Todd DeVito.
The victory was particularly sweet for Townsend, who’s fallen in the
quarterfinals the previous two years.
THE PAIN: Brendan Willem was surely looking for the Clam Jam
three-peat, but couldn’t fend off the dynamic duo of Townsend and Reynolds. Hey, you gotta spread the winning love around, right?
THE MAN: Randy Townsend is the
only pro surfer from Long Beach Island. While he travels the entire East Coast
to compete, he's always quick to give respect to his LBI roots. And whether
it's boards, jet ski training, knowledge, or a trip to Indo, he never hesitates
to share what he has earned with his homeboys. Randy’s a guy that local surfers
all look up to, and he knows that. This title has eluded him for two years.
Winning with Luke Reynolds — a landscaper riding a longboard with a cast
on his arm — is exactly what the Clam Jam is all about.
YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB: “We're LBI. One way on
and one way off. We're not Ocean City with 27 contests a year, and we're
not Seaside with that hyper-competitive Casino Pier. We live in our own little
bubble, which is cool most of the time. But there wasn't a community surf event
here for a good 15 years. Everyone kind of splintered up and there was no
chance to bring everyone together. After three years of the Jetty Clam
Jam, it's become an absolute tradition. If you have 128 surfers, 120 of them
don't compete in another contest all year long. It's just about bringing your
dog and your family, surfing your heart out, eating cold clams, and hanging out
with your friends. You have longboarders and short in the same heat. The best
aspect is the way everyone goes nuts for the older guys — the fellas that
made this place what it is." –Treasured ESM Assignment Writer/ Clam Jam MC/ LBI lifer Jon Coen
“When you’re in the water, you do
your best, but the true meaning of this event lies in the camaraderie of the
LBI surf community.” –One of those older guys/ LBI heavy Bill
Machotka
FINAL
RESULTS OF THE 3RD ANNUAL JETTY CLAM JAM
MENS
1. Randy Townsend & Luke Reynolds
2. Josh Law & Todd DeVito
WOMENS
COQUINA JAM
1. Debbie Green & Christina Claps
Sweetwater Leaves It Up To The Grom At Oakley Surf Shop Challenge Mid-Atlantic Regional Qualifier; “Uncle” Andrew Gesler Drives Heritage Win Home In Northeast
By Matt Pruett and Nick McGregor;
Photos by Matt Lusk
